How to refuse drug use?

What is addiction

I think that in the modern world there is no person who does not know the word “drugs”. “My close person is a drug addict.” This phrase grows cold in the heart and the hands drop from fear.

So what is addiction?

Drug addiction is a condition characterized by a pathological craving for the use of drugs, accompanied by mental and sometimes somatic disorders. This is what Wikipedia tells us. Translating from the medical language into the human language, this is an addiction, a disease, a strong attraction to certain substances of such a force that a person cannot cope with without outside help.

Drug addiction as a diagnosis has been studied for a very long time and we know and understand its consequences well. But no matter how much effort and money we invest in the study of this disease, a huge role belongs to the desire of the person himself to give up the use of this poison.

Thus, drug addiction treatment begins with the patient’s decision to recover.

Signs of drug use

The main symptom by which it is possible to unequivocally diagnose addiction syndrome is the so-called withdrawal syndrome, in the jargon language “withdrawal”. This is the general name for certain traits that appear in a patient upon complete cessation of drug use.

The timing of withdrawal symptoms depends on the substance taken and usually develops gradually. Most often a few hours after the last dose of the drug. The complete picture of symptoms unfolds after 3-5 days, followed by the disappearance of acute symptoms usually after 8-10 days, although psychological dependence can persist for years.

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    Already 6-8 hours after the termination of regular intake, the patient has anxiety, weakness, malaise, irritability.

    This is joined by yawning, lacrimation and runny nose, itching in the nose and nasal congestion, increased intestinal activity. Very often, the patient’s relatives, due to the similarity of symptoms, mistakenly take these signs for the manifestation of ARVI and conscientiously treat this disease.

    If the addict has not taken the next dose of the substance, severe sweating, chills, sleep disturbances, and muscle aches appear.

    After two days without drugs, withdrawal traits appear, which is why she was nicknamed withdrawal. These are constant, breaking and twisting pains in the muscles of the arms, legs, back and even abdominal muscles. These pains are so pronounced that, coupled with thoughts about drugs, patients rush about, groan, and cannot find a place for themselves. They are constantly haunted by thoughts focused only on receiving a new dose and on the hopelessness of their condition.

    On the 3-4th day, the peak of the syndrome complex occurs, the patient’s condition deteriorates significantly. Blood pressure rises, heart rate increases. Abdominal pains with loose stools and vomiting progress, the temperature rises to 38 degrees.

    After this, the symptoms gradually disappear, and the regression of the symptoms occurs in the reverse order.

    What problems are the addict and his family facing

    “All families of drug addicts are equally unhappy”.

    Drug addiction is a social pathology. Relentless statistics say that the family of the addict plays a role not only in the refusal of the latter from using, but also in the formation of this addiction. Excessive permissiveness and indulgence, as well as, on the contrary, rigid frameworks in childhood often lead to this disease.

    This habit changes a person’s social position and behavior. The latter becomes selfish, calculating, self-centered and cold. Drug addiction destroys the strongest family ties, entails the loss of friends, trust, work and school. Material losses associated with the acquisition of narcotic substances play an important role here.

    For many years, the family of a drug addict has lived with him at all stages of the disease. Because, in fact, the whole family is sick.

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    How to stop drugs?

    First of all, you need to clearly understand that the decision to recover and quit drugs must come from the patient himself. Only a voluntary and informed decision to quit drugs is the key to success and hope.

    The support and participation of the family plays a leading role.

    To completely get rid of the physical and psychological cravings for drugs, there are a number of methods within the framework of evidence-based medicine.

    The general meaning of drug treatment is reduced to a gradual decrease in the doses of drugs with the subsequent rejection of the latter.

    The psychological component of therapy plays a significant role in treatment. Mandatory consultation with a psychiatrist followed by observation and correction of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered to be effective. This method helps drug addicts to become aware of situations that lead to drug use and teaches them to avoid such circumstances in the future. Develops new habits and behaviors, changes beliefs that can provoke attraction.

    Therapy helps to change the attitude towards oneself, one’s future, to show again the value of family ties and the importance of supporting close people.

    Drug addiction – it is not just a disease. This is the problem of the whole society as a whole; a road leading nowhere; destruction of intelligence; decay not only of the body, but also of the soul.

    Like any disease, it can and should be treated in a timely manner, realizing that the healing process will not be quick. But the goal will meet expectations and hopes. After all, the reward will be a saved life.

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